WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A dozen Democratic members of the U.S. Congress have sent the White House a letter asking for a change in U.S. policy toward the war in Iraq.
"We write out of a deep sense of concern that the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate and that there is no effective plan for improvement," the letter to U.S. President George Bush said.
The Democrats pointed to increased sectarian violence in Iraq and a spike in the number of U.S. military casualties. At least one U.S. general said the stepped-up attacks are tied to the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and perhaps next month's U.S. elections.
Bush has said he will make changes that field commanders ask for but in general the policy has been to "stay the course." The Democrats' letter said "that neither the current U.S. plan nor that of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will bring stability and security to Iraq."
The letter suggested a "phased redeployment and transitioning the U.S. mission in Iraq by the end of the year," a pressuring of Iraqi leaders to disarm militias and to achieve power sharing.
